2. Adams was a major representative of Massachusetts. He was born there and also served as a delegate to the first and second continental congresses. At the time Massachusetts was both metropolitan and agricultural, with its center in Boston. Adams represented the social elite of Massachusetts, and wished continue to acknowledge social classes, even after the Revolution. Massachusetts was divided between poor farmers and wealthy merchants. The opening up of trade after the revolution brought wealth into Boston and other ports. The farmers continued to struggle, as portrayed by Shay’s Rebellion. The close vote of 187 to 168 in ratification of the U.S. Constitution also depicts the clash of wealth and poverty.
3. John Adams was born into a modest family, his father being a farmer and Puritan deacon. Adams was a 5th generation Puritan, with family roots in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Adams was a well-educated Harvard graduate, diplomat and an aristocratic figurehead of the founding fathers. He believed in naturally occurring social classes, and that the elite should be the ones governing and in control. Adams played a large part in shaping the Massachusetts Constitution and instituted his beliefs in republicanism and federalism. He was also a Massachusetts delegate to the first and second continental congresses. Before his vice presidency and presidency, he served as Minister to the Netherlands as well as Great Britain. 4. Adams was absent for the drafting of the U.S. Constitution because he was overseas in Europe serving as Minister to Great Britain. 5. Adams was not a member of his state’s ratifying convention. It was instead led by Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
References- James Madison, Ben Franklin, John Jay DeGregorio, William A. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Ed. Sandra Lee. Stuart. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 2009. Print. *United States of America. A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America. By John Adams. Reading Revolution. May 2005. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/Adams.html>. United States of American. Teaching American History. By John Adams. 2008. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=180>.
2. Adams was a major representative of Massachusetts. He was born there and also served as a delegate to the first and second continental congresses. At the time Massachusetts was both metropolitan and agricultural, with its center in Boston. Adams represented the social elite of Massachusetts, and wished continue to acknowledge social classes, even after the Revolution. Massachusetts was divided between poor farmers and wealthy merchants. The opening up of trade after the revolution brought wealth into Boston and other ports. The farmers continued to struggle, as portrayed by Shay’s Rebellion. The close vote of 187 to 168 in ratification of the U.S. Constitution also depicts the clash of wealth and poverty.
3. John Adams was born into a modest family, his father being a farmer and Puritan deacon. Adams was a 5th generation Puritan, with family roots in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Adams was a well-educated Harvard graduate, diplomat and an aristocratic figurehead of the founding fathers. He believed in naturally occurring social classes, and that the elite should be the ones governing and in control. Adams played a large part in shaping the Massachusetts Constitution and instituted his beliefs in republicanism and federalism. He was also a Massachusetts delegate to the first and second continental congresses. Before his vice presidency and presidency, he served as Minister to the Netherlands as well as Great Britain.
4. Adams was absent for the drafting of the U.S. Constitution because he was overseas in Europe serving as Minister to Great Britain.
5. Adams was not a member of his state’s ratifying convention. It was instead led by Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
References- James Madison, Ben Franklin, John Jay
DeGregorio, William A. The Complete Book of U.S. Presidents. Ed. Sandra Lee. Stuart. Fort Lee, NJ: Barricade, 2009. Print.
*United States of America. A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America. By John Adams. Reading Revolution. May 2005. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Reading_Revolutions/Adams.html>.
United States of American. Teaching American History. By John Adams. 2008. Web. 19 Sept. 2010. <http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=180>.